Chelan City Council applauded for flood control efforts; advances Park Development and Hazard Plan

CHELAN – Chelan Hills residents Paul and Carol Rogers addressed the bi-monthly meeting of the Chelan city council on Feb. 27 and expressed their appreciation for the city’s proactive response to flood control issues facing their neighborhood.

The Rogers’ praised the quarter-million-dollar Department of Energy grant that will fund a study of stormwater problems. Public Works Director Jake Youngren announced the $248,900 grant at the Feb. 13 council meeting.

During June and July 2002 torrential rainstorms that some describe as a 100-year event caused flooding and property damage to many Chelan Hills properties.

In other business ranging from park development to the county’s hazard mitigation plan the council:

• Approved the city’s contribution of $3,000 for its planning partnership portion of the Chelan County Multi-Jurisdiction Natural Hazard Mitigation and Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

City administrator Wade Farris explained the county received a grant to upgrade the county hazard mitigation plan – one designed to prevent hazards like wildfire and chemical spills from happening. Farris said the city also contributes to the county to do an emergency management plan if something happens. The requested contribution, spread among the cities of the county, is Chelan’s portion toward the required matching funds. The last plan upgrade was in 2018.

• Adopted the 2024 Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations Planning Commission Docket.

Community Development Director John Ajax said that with a major 2026 plan update ahead, the 2024 amendments are relatively minor items except for the land use element regarding downtown mixed-use. Ajax said a potential map amendment will be explored with the neighborhood of single-family homes on the periphery of the mixed-use to see if there is interest to keep those homes in perpetuity.

• Approved the $30,000 professional services agreement with Geyer Coburn Hutchins landscape architectural firm for the Park Street Road End Park.

The agreement will move the Park Street Park further along through the $30.000 bid process, said Parks and Recreation Director Paul Horne. 

“We think we can still meet the spring construction that we anticipate so we can get this project done before summer,” Horne said. 

Mike Maltais: 350-333-8483 or michael@ward.media